I love the ding ding of the little bell dress.
It says swish, swoosh, swash.
A Family Story
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Strawberry Champagne Cupcake Sparklers
I want to make this so bad.
Looks so good!
From the DC Recipe Ladies.
Low Fat to boot.
Three of my most favorite things.
Cupcakes
Champagne
Sparklers
Servings: Serves 12
Ingredients
Strawberry Champagne Cupcakes (36 mini cupcakes, 3 per Champagne flute)
1/2 cup fresh strawberries , diced
1/2 Tbsp. good Champagne (sweet rose Champagne suggested)
2 1/2 cups flour , sifted
1/2 tsp. baking powder , sifted
1/4 Tsp. salt
8 Tbsp. (4 ounces) unsalted butter
1 3/4 cups sugar
2 large eggs , at room temperature
2 1/4 tsp. pure vanilla extract + seeds from 1 vanilla bean(NOTE: move down to next line...see edits to other recipe)
1 1/4 cups whole milk , at room temperature
Champagne Buttercream Frosting
16 Tbsp. (8 ounces) unsalted butter
4 cups confectioner's sugar , sifted
1 tsp. whole milk
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1/8 tsp. salt
1/2 cup good Champagne (sweet rose Champagne suggested)
Strawberry Layer
24 fresh strawberries
1 cup good Champagne (sweet rose Champagne suggested)
Chocolate Ganache
2 cups high-quality semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup heavy cream
Directions
For Serving:
12 glass Champagne flutes
12 long spoons
12 indoor-safe sparkler candles
Step 1: Baking the Mini Strawberry Champagne Cupcakes
Preheat the oven to 350°. Line 2 mini cupcake pans with 36 mini baking cups or grease pans with butter if not using baking cups.
Dice up 1/2 cup of fresh strawberries and soak in 1/2 cup of Champagne. Set aside.
Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl.
Place the unsalted butter in the bowl of a stand mixer or hand-held electric mixer. Add the sugar; beat on medium speed until well incorporated.
Add the eggs one at a time, mixing slowly after each addition.
Combine the vanilla extract, vanilla bean seeds and milk in a large liquid measuring cup.
Reduce the speed to low. Add one-third of the flour mixture to the butter mixture, then gradually add one-third of the milk mixture, beating until well incorporated. Add another one-third of the flour mixture, followed by one-third of the milk mixture. Stop to scrape down the bowl as needed. Add the remaining flour mixture, followed by the remaining milk mixture, and beat just until combined.
Gently fold in the diced Champagne-soaked strawberries, just until incorporated.
Scoop batter into baking cups and bake for 10 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean. Transfer the pan to a wire rack to cool completely. If using paper baking cups, peel off all of the paper baking cups from the cupcakes at this time.
Step 2: Making the Champagne Buttercream Frosting
Place the unsalted butter in the bowl of a stand mixer or hand-held electric mixer. Add the confectioner's sugar; beat on medium speed until well incorporated.
Add the vanilla extract, milk, salt and Champagne, and beat on high speed until light and fluffy. Place frosting in a disposable piping bag with a large round tip.
Step 3: Preparing the Strawberries
Slice 24 strawberries lengthwise and soak in 1 cup of Champagne for approximately 10 to 15 minutes.
Step 4: Making the Chocolate Ganache
Fill a medium saucepan with an inch or 2 of water and place over medium-low heat. Place the chocolate chips and heavy cream in a medium glass bowl over the saucepan and melt the chocolate chips. Stir occasionally until the chips are completely melted. Remove the bowl of melted chocolate from the saucepan. Pour the ganache into a plastic squeeze bottle. (If a squeeze bottle is not available, you can drizzle with a spoon.)
Step 5: Assembling Layers in Champagne Flutes
Line up 12 glass Champagne flutes. Insert 1 mini strawberry Champagne cupcake in the bottom of each glass. Next, pipe a swirl of Champagne buttercream frosting on top of each cupcake. Add several slices of Champagne-soaked strawberries, and a drizzle of chocolate ganache. Repeat layers. Finally, place a third mini strawberry Champagne cupcake at the top of each glass, pipe with a final "Georgetown Cupcake signature swirl" of Champagne buttercream frosting, and top with a final drizzle of chocolate ganache.
Step 6: Serving
Insert 1 indoor-safe sparkler candle in the top of each glass. Light the candles at midnight, serve with spoons, and enjoy!
..
Looks so good!
From the DC Recipe Ladies.
Low Fat to boot.
Three of my most favorite things.
Cupcakes
Champagne
Sparklers
Servings: Serves 12
Ingredients
Strawberry Champagne Cupcakes (36 mini cupcakes, 3 per Champagne flute)
1/2 cup fresh strawberries , diced
1/2 Tbsp. good Champagne (sweet rose Champagne suggested)
2 1/2 cups flour , sifted
1/2 tsp. baking powder , sifted
1/4 Tsp. salt
8 Tbsp. (4 ounces) unsalted butter
1 3/4 cups sugar
2 large eggs , at room temperature
2 1/4 tsp. pure vanilla extract + seeds from 1 vanilla bean(NOTE: move down to next line...see edits to other recipe)
1 1/4 cups whole milk , at room temperature
Champagne Buttercream Frosting
16 Tbsp. (8 ounces) unsalted butter
4 cups confectioner's sugar , sifted
1 tsp. whole milk
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1/8 tsp. salt
1/2 cup good Champagne (sweet rose Champagne suggested)
Strawberry Layer
24 fresh strawberries
1 cup good Champagne (sweet rose Champagne suggested)
Chocolate Ganache
2 cups high-quality semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup heavy cream
Directions
For Serving:
12 glass Champagne flutes
12 long spoons
12 indoor-safe sparkler candles
Step 1: Baking the Mini Strawberry Champagne Cupcakes
Preheat the oven to 350°. Line 2 mini cupcake pans with 36 mini baking cups or grease pans with butter if not using baking cups.
Dice up 1/2 cup of fresh strawberries and soak in 1/2 cup of Champagne. Set aside.
Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl.
Place the unsalted butter in the bowl of a stand mixer or hand-held electric mixer. Add the sugar; beat on medium speed until well incorporated.
Add the eggs one at a time, mixing slowly after each addition.
Combine the vanilla extract, vanilla bean seeds and milk in a large liquid measuring cup.
Reduce the speed to low. Add one-third of the flour mixture to the butter mixture, then gradually add one-third of the milk mixture, beating until well incorporated. Add another one-third of the flour mixture, followed by one-third of the milk mixture. Stop to scrape down the bowl as needed. Add the remaining flour mixture, followed by the remaining milk mixture, and beat just until combined.
Gently fold in the diced Champagne-soaked strawberries, just until incorporated.
Scoop batter into baking cups and bake for 10 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean. Transfer the pan to a wire rack to cool completely. If using paper baking cups, peel off all of the paper baking cups from the cupcakes at this time.
Step 2: Making the Champagne Buttercream Frosting
Place the unsalted butter in the bowl of a stand mixer or hand-held electric mixer. Add the confectioner's sugar; beat on medium speed until well incorporated.
Add the vanilla extract, milk, salt and Champagne, and beat on high speed until light and fluffy. Place frosting in a disposable piping bag with a large round tip.
Step 3: Preparing the Strawberries
Slice 24 strawberries lengthwise and soak in 1 cup of Champagne for approximately 10 to 15 minutes.
Step 4: Making the Chocolate Ganache
Fill a medium saucepan with an inch or 2 of water and place over medium-low heat. Place the chocolate chips and heavy cream in a medium glass bowl over the saucepan and melt the chocolate chips. Stir occasionally until the chips are completely melted. Remove the bowl of melted chocolate from the saucepan. Pour the ganache into a plastic squeeze bottle. (If a squeeze bottle is not available, you can drizzle with a spoon.)
Step 5: Assembling Layers in Champagne Flutes
Line up 12 glass Champagne flutes. Insert 1 mini strawberry Champagne cupcake in the bottom of each glass. Next, pipe a swirl of Champagne buttercream frosting on top of each cupcake. Add several slices of Champagne-soaked strawberries, and a drizzle of chocolate ganache. Repeat layers. Finally, place a third mini strawberry Champagne cupcake at the top of each glass, pipe with a final "Georgetown Cupcake signature swirl" of Champagne buttercream frosting, and top with a final drizzle of chocolate ganache.
Step 6: Serving
Insert 1 indoor-safe sparkler candle in the top of each glass. Light the candles at midnight, serve with spoons, and enjoy!
..
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
New Craft Work!
One of my darling Jacee-Kay's birthday decorations for Saturday!
Whoop!
My five year old love bug!
December 31, 2005.
Time flies.
Cranky Blakey
Well, we have figured out why our poor sweet girl has not been the happiest camper lately. She broke out into a rash on Christmas Day (Afternoon) and we later found out at the doctor that she is suffering from an allergic reaction to amoxicillan(sp?)
Well here that poor girl is with her polkda dotted self. Gah. The poor thing. No more amoxicillan for this little darling.
Well here that poor girl is with her polkda dotted self. Gah. The poor thing. No more amoxicillan for this little darling.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Christmas Morning
Although I love cranky faces, I tried my hardest for a smile. Just a crack from Blakelynne. Jacee-Kay was all smiles. I just thought this picture was priceless. It didn't capture the excitement of the morning that we all shared together, but you know how I cannot hardly take the cutest grumpy faces. Ever. Flying Reindeer ate all their carrots, Santa ate all his cookies, Skeeter and Sadee recieved bones and everyone had a holly jolly Christmas.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Baby Beeber's Vocabulary
Baby B has added two words to her vocabulary.
Da-Da.
Translation to Daddy.
and
Uh-Oh.
Translation to 'Hello', 'Mama', 'UhOh', 'Feed Me'. 'Haha'. Pretty much all of these.
Da-Da.
Translation to Daddy.
and
Uh-Oh.
Translation to 'Hello', 'Mama', 'UhOh', 'Feed Me'. 'Haha'. Pretty much all of these.
Math Overload
I have been trekking on a 'back to school' journey for quite some time now. Originally I was just going back to finish my associates degree. Check. But, I was so close to a bachelor degree that I said to my self, "Self, why not go back and finish all the way?" I laugh at this thought now! ha!
It has been a trek. I use this word because by definition trek means a 'long and difficult' journey. It has been just this.
Two classes stand in my way from getting into Texas A&M. A dream of mine, which is finally now at my fingertips, but still a trek away.
The first one is Math1324. Do not let the name of this class fool you. It should be called The Hardest Calculus/Trigonometry Class Ever Ever needed to get into a university.
The second one is Math 1325. I have not attempted this class yet, but have high hopes of passing 1324 so that I can take 1325 this spring.
I am taking 1324 in a winter minimester. That's right. The Hardest Calculus/Trigonometry Class Ever Ever needed to get into a university I am taking in a span of two and a half weeks. I am there from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. I am in math overload. My mind cannot even function properly at this point and it is only day 3. Two more weeks to go. The countdown is on.
I studied my bottom off for my test last night. Took the Hardest Calculus/Trig Test Ever and made a 65. It was exam one. There are four more exams.
A 65 you may say isn't that bad. But it's almost a slap in the face when you are studying as hard as I am, and this is the grade you turn up?
I keep telling myself I'm not much of a math person, but yet here I am in my everyday profession, a book keeper/accountant/payroll manager/billing department manager. How is this all possible. Ironic I suppose.
"Do not worry about your difficulties in Mathematics. I can assure you mine are still greater"
It has been a trek. I use this word because by definition trek means a 'long and difficult' journey. It has been just this.
Two classes stand in my way from getting into Texas A&M. A dream of mine, which is finally now at my fingertips, but still a trek away.
The first one is Math1324. Do not let the name of this class fool you. It should be called The Hardest Calculus/Trigonometry Class Ever Ever needed to get into a university.
The second one is Math 1325. I have not attempted this class yet, but have high hopes of passing 1324 so that I can take 1325 this spring.
I am taking 1324 in a winter minimester. That's right. The Hardest Calculus/Trigonometry Class Ever Ever needed to get into a university I am taking in a span of two and a half weeks. I am there from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. I am in math overload. My mind cannot even function properly at this point and it is only day 3. Two more weeks to go. The countdown is on.
I studied my bottom off for my test last night. Took the Hardest Calculus/Trig Test Ever and made a 65. It was exam one. There are four more exams.
A 65 you may say isn't that bad. But it's almost a slap in the face when you are studying as hard as I am, and this is the grade you turn up?
I keep telling myself I'm not much of a math person, but yet here I am in my everyday profession, a book keeper/accountant/payroll manager/billing department manager. How is this all possible. Ironic I suppose.
"Do not worry about your difficulties in Mathematics. I can assure you mine are still greater"
Saturday, December 18, 2010
A Cold Day In December
We met Koree and Grandpa for a coke at the McDonald's in Palestine.
We played.
Took pictures.
And as always, had a great time.
I have only one regret.
That Starla and Brie could've made the trip too.
Here's our darling ladies though on their playdate.
Cranky faces are my favorite.
We played.
Took pictures.
And as always, had a great time.
I have only one regret.
That Starla and Brie could've made the trip too.
Here's our darling ladies though on their playdate.
Cranky faces are my favorite.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Thursday, December 16, 2010
DECEMBER
Alot has happened this month:
My sister has had her very first baby. A sweet baby boy. Named Sully Mack. 'Mack' goes along with all the other babies in our family too. For example:
We have:
Alexa Marie
Jenna Michelle
Starla Martha
My girls:
Jacee-Kay Michelle
Blakelynne Martha
Starla's girls:
Koree Marie
Brie McKenzie
and now Jenna's boy:
Sully Mack born December 1, 2010.
M's are the theme! Let's see how long it lasts!
The next wonderful thing that has happened:
Lauren married Zach in a winter wonderland whirl wedding. Our children were a part of the ceremony. As we Doug and I, but my goodness our little darling girls looked gorgeous. Just precious all dolled up in their white dresses. Jacee-Kay marched down the aisle throwing out flower petals and was the most perfect flower girl I've ever seen. She never faultered once and was very lovely in her small little actions.
Blakelynne sat in a wagon filled with tuelle with Vaughn and those two were just adorable.
The other major turning point in our lives is:
Jacee-Kay will be five this month.
I am as prepared for this as I can be, and cannot believe my little angel will be five on December 31st.
She is so grown up and so beautiful.
I am loving her sponge like mind too. She is taking everything in. So Smart.
My sister has had her very first baby. A sweet baby boy. Named Sully Mack. 'Mack' goes along with all the other babies in our family too. For example:
We have:
Alexa Marie
Jenna Michelle
Starla Martha
My girls:
Jacee-Kay Michelle
Blakelynne Martha
Starla's girls:
Koree Marie
Brie McKenzie
and now Jenna's boy:
Sully Mack born December 1, 2010.
M's are the theme! Let's see how long it lasts!
The next wonderful thing that has happened:
Lauren married Zach in a winter wonderland whirl wedding. Our children were a part of the ceremony. As we Doug and I, but my goodness our little darling girls looked gorgeous. Just precious all dolled up in their white dresses. Jacee-Kay marched down the aisle throwing out flower petals and was the most perfect flower girl I've ever seen. She never faultered once and was very lovely in her small little actions.
Blakelynne sat in a wagon filled with tuelle with Vaughn and those two were just adorable.
The other major turning point in our lives is:
Jacee-Kay will be five this month.
I am as prepared for this as I can be, and cannot believe my little angel will be five on December 31st.
She is so grown up and so beautiful.
I am loving her sponge like mind too. She is taking everything in. So Smart.
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